Frame damage but no accident A clean title usually means a car that has never suffered any major "total loss" damage, was flood-damaged or got stolen. If the CarFax says accident but the LISTING says no damage then that means that whatever was repaired from the accident was repaired Nov 6, 2017 · Learn what frame damage is and the costs to repair it with CarBrain. Jul 25, 2025 · Technically, yes, you can drive a car after it’s suffered minor frame damage, but it’s not advisable. Knowing the facts behind these reports and how to handle them helps you confidently manage or evaluate your vehicle. Dec 13, 2017 · We have been considering purchasing a 2015 touring elite from a local stealership. At Auto Group Collision, we often get asked whether a vehicle with a damaged frame is considered a total loss. But one of the most critical areas of your vehicle to check after a collision is something you can’t easily spot: the frame. should i buy this car? Seller is selling the car for $7500, which i think is a pretty good Jul 25, 2025 · Not all car crashes are created equal. My credit was less than perfect from identity theft so I had to find something affordable that I could be financed for. Get the unibody or frame Aug 20, 2025 · Even without visible damage, a car accident can have legal and financial consequences. Carmax, and any other dealer only know what they know or can perceive. Understand the impact on your vehicle's safety and the potential repair expenses. If You Get Rear Ended in a Car Accident with No Damage, What Now? Hidden Damage After Rear End Collision: Inspection Checklist. Our guide tells you how to assess frame damage to your vehicle, and what to do to stay safe. " That does not mean a car is damage free. driving it we hear a few noises and we weren’t sure about some of the conditioning of the vehicle we did the Carfax which and showed a (damage reported) with no details. I could not post a screen shot) 11/09/2022 47,017 Damage Report Structural damage disclosed by seller based on results of a visual inspection Vehicle sold Structural damage may impact vehicle safety and reliability. The bumper had been entirely replaced (poorly done) and still evaluating it but are saying there is potential structural damage if it was this obvious of an accident do I have grounds for them knowingly selling me a car in an accident . I'm hoping you brought the vehicle to a shop of your choosing and not one of their "preferred partners" because having frame damage on your title is a massive red flag and will greatly diminish the "CarMax Quality Certification assures buyers that a vehicle has no flood damage, frame damage, or salvage history. Hi, long story short im looking at a 2013 infiniti g37x that has a frame damage title via autocheck, but no accident history. In modern unibody cars, the body is the frame, so any damage to permanent body panels counts as frame damage in vehicle reports. Frame damage I cannot. Anything said by a dealer should be assumed to be bullshit until evidence is seen to the contrary. The carfax shows a clean title, but the car gurus page shows frame damage. Clean Carfax, found frame damage claim on Autocheck when trading in to a new dealer! A couple years ago I bought a car from a small dealership in San Diego. If the CarFax report doesn't indicate structural damage, there can be structural damage from an unreported accident. We took it to an auto body who said it has 100% been in an accident. Dec 23, 2024 · Seeing “accident reported” on a CarFax can create doubts about a car’s history, even when it says “no damage. Most modern vehicles are built with unibody construction, meaning the frame is integrated into the body. The car is listed at $50k which is about $5-15k below Mar 14, 2017 · We’ve interrogated the computer, no accident codes, etc. Frame damage is repairable! Sep 16, 2010 · Accident I can deal with. Many states require sellers—especially dealerships—to disclose past accidents, particularly if they involved frame damage or airbag deployment. There is one accident reported, but no damage reported? Should I consider this a red flag? Or is this likely an accident so small that it never got fixed in the first place? Car has 60k on it and the pictures look flawless. But 2 days later found there is major subframe damage in the rear and other body evidence of an accident that was discovered. This should reduce the car's price a little, since it can no longer be sold as 'certified pre-owned'. The seller said clean title and no accident. Jun 5, 2024 · When you’re involved in a car accident, the aftermath can be overwhelming. Not all correction is easily found. For years only AutoCheck reports would catch if a car had frame announced at auction, Carfax seems to be getting better at this but there's a whole bunch of guys who make a very lucrative living buying cars with frame damage and clean carfax reports. Carfax reports aren't very useful IMO. ” This often raises questions about the car’s actual condition or value. Frame Damage Even a low-speed collision can cause misalignment or cracks in your car’s frame. Getting rear-ended can be deceptive – even when there’s no visible damage, serious underlying issues could be lurking beneath the surface. what are my options? I am a college student and bought a 2014 Civic off Craigslist back in April 2016. I guess that holds some water. Just found out my car has frame damage. Simple fender-benders that result in cosmetic damage can be frustrating and surprisingly costly, but significant collisions that cause structural or frame damage can be difficult and incredibly expensive to repair. For many Los Angeles drivers, frame damage often goes unnoticed after an accident, especially in low-speed or seemingly minor Jul 15, 2025 · That’s when I learned about frame damage. I’m more inclined to believe the carfax because it’s a full report, but the cargurus listing showing frame damage has led me to question whether this is too good to be true or not. Driving with structural damage is unsafe for you and detrimental to the car. I have found a car I really like for a solid price, but noticed when checking the carfax report that it has structural damage reported but no accidents reported. So i ran a free report check using ebay, and autocheck reported frame damage without any accident? I also tried using vincheck and another free vin report site and they both came out clean. This can give you the confidence that your prospective vehicle is in excellent working condition and hasn’t been involved in a serious accident that required professional repair work. Accidents often go unreported to police and insurance companies, Carfax’s main sources for accident data. . I think the gist of what the dealer was saying is basically *any* lower area damage to a unibody can be considered 'frame' damage. Apr 25, 2024 · Repairing Car Frame Damage What is frame damage on a car? It’s structural harm or deformation to the vehicle’s frame that can significantly impact the car’s safety, structural integrity, and overall performance. I’m in California and I’m interested in a 2021 Supra with 3,000 miles on it. "Frame damage" can mean just about anything. Signs of frame damage can be obvious with visual deformities or subtle, like balding tires. Sep 5, 2023 · If you're looking to buy yourself a nice used car, finding one with "frame damage but a clean title" can be a bit strange. How is this possible? Aug 5, 2024 · After an accident, you may experience frame damage. The car is a 2019 Sentra with a clean title, but has this on the Carfax? Is this worth pursuing or I am better off passing? (sorry for the copy and paste. It happens all the time. You’ll get simple steps, tips from my own mistakes, and ways to avoid trouble. [1] If that structure gets bent or warped, it can throw off the alignment. Is the work order from this visit poorly documented? Can you tell us what the service department wrote? Simply put, a clean CARFAX means that no accidents or damage repair have been reported on the selected vehicle. Car frame damage is serious, as it affects the basic driving functions and safety of any vehicle, including cars and trucks. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll Apr 12, 2025 · After a car accident, it’s natural to assess the damage based on what you can see—dents, scratches, broken lights, or deployed airbags. Carmax makes significant effort in my experience to weed those cars out, and cars with damage history If the CarFax report indicates structural damage, there is structural damage. Understanding this can help you make informed decisions about repairs and insurance claims. Dec 21, 2023 · Learn how Carfax reports damage on a car even if there was no accident, and what this means for potential buyers. Aug 5, 2024 · After an accident, you may experience frame damage. Any damages to the vehicle's core skeleton is frame damage. Insurance companies are also more than happy to pay for a new frame rail (or multiple) and the shop will cut out the damaged rail and section in a new one, if it’s cost effective. Learn how to identify warning signs, understand the impact on safety and resale value, and make informed decisions when buying used cars. Jul 14, 2025 · Discover what constitutes frame damage in vehicles, from bent and cracked frames to sagging structures. May 8, 2025 · Undisclosed accident damage can lower your car’s resale value and may hide structural issues that affect safety. Jun 30, 2025 · Learn how to identify frame damage after an accident with visual inspections, test drives, and signs to watch for to ensure your vehicle's safety. I'm trying to buy a hyundai elentra tomorrow from a private seller. This article shares easy ways to spot frame damage, whether you’re buying a used car or checking one after a crash. The time now is 09:04 AM. It does not mean that a vehicle has not been in an accident though, just that Carfax has no record of it. Learn what to do, what to report, and how to protect yourself. Does a clean title guarantee no accidents? Uncover hidden truths, spot title scams, and learn how to buy smart with confidence! Accident with clean title/no damage reported, sketchy or ok? I am looking at a car that has a clean title. It depends - if the "no damage" is on the CarFax it COULD mean that, for example, someone backed into the bumper of the car in a parking lot, a cop just happened to be there, they filled out an incident report, but there was no damage. When a seller fails to do so, it can be considered fraud or misrepresentation. The dealer tries to fool you with their Question about car purchase and autocheck reportAll times are GMT -5. One of the most pressing concerns is the extent of damage to your vehicle. Your collisions are recorded in code form? I don’t know what that means. How is this possible? Pulling works wonders. The carfax was clean (no accidents/clean title) and everything looked good. I even had a mechanic came with me and made sure it was all well taken care off. Let’s dive in! Frame damage is any damage to the core section of the car that supports the body, fenders, roof, trunk, hood, engine compartment, or wheel welds. Aug 8, 2025 · 1. Not all damage is reported. So I purchased it and I loved it. Knowing how to tell if a car has frame damage can save you money and keep you safe. Nov 17, 2023 · We bought a used car and both carfax and dealer claims no accidents and no damage. That’s why we always encourage our customers to consider a cars current May 8, 2025 · Undisclosed accident damage can lower your car’s resale value and may hide structural issues that affect safety. It is unclear if the door frame is bent, one of the roller channels or the vehicle chassis. If the front frame rails were just kinked and then straightened on a frame machine, then you'd see some waviness in the front rails but no tears, no welding, no real "sturctural" damage. This comprehensive guide walks you through crucial inspection steps and legal considerations specific to Southern California Learn your rights if a dealer sold you a car with an accident, structural damage, frame damage, or other damage without disclosing it to you. Protect your investment and safety with this essential guide to vehicle structural integrity. No accidents reported to Carfax simply means that Carfax has not received a report of any accidents. nby rlj1 gycau3 6iokk 08w jtiz 16ko ww6kkh ppe wrr